A city centre hotel has been ordered to monitor guests following police concerns over child sexual exploitation.

Nottinghamshire Police has issued its first Child Sexual Exploitation warning notice to the Britannia Hotel in St James's Street, off Maid Marian Way, under Section 116 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act.

It gives police powers to obtain information about guests at hotels believed to be used for child sexual exploitation.

This means that all guests at the Britannia must provide photo ID including names and addresses on checking in, so police can determine who is staying there.

Police said they grew increasingly concerned about the frequent number of calls they were getting about the hotel, and they issued the order as "the last resort" as the hotel had failed to engage with them.

The hotel now has six months to prove it is complying with the notice.

But it is appealing the notice and a hearing is due to take place at Nottingham Magistrates Court in April.

"Children that have gone missing have been located there and there has been reports of rape. The hotel has featured on a number of child exploitation investigations.

"With online grooming, the Britannia has been discussed as a possible venue.

"It is a place that is easy for a would-be perpetrator to use; it is a city centre location, its acceptance of walk-in trade, and an absence of checks on who you are. It is also cheap as chips. It makes it attractive to perpetrators.

"We have tried to work with the Britannia but as a hotel they have not engaged with that. It is the last resort."

Police issued the notice on February 5. It states police reasonably believe that the hotel/establishment "has been or will be used for the purposes of child exploitation or conduct that is preparatory or otherwise connected with child sexual exploitation".

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DCI Quinn added: "I think this is a venue that is attractive to people and has been used for the sexually exploiting of children and vulnerable adults.

"This is a preventative measure and reduces the risk to children and young people. It is not about punishing the hotel.

"We are asking the hotel to adopt a process of only allowing guests to book rooms once they have given identification, such as photo ID, and that information about guests is available when we ask for it.

"We don't want hotels to be used to exploit kids so the more unattractive we can make the city for perpetrators, the safer the children of Nottinghamshire.

"It is not designed to catch criminals. It is to prevent them using our hotels to commit offences against children and young people."